Pelargonium plant named ‘Paclice’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Paclice’, characterized by its upright and uniformly rounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; medium green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern; early and freely flowering habit; and intense red purple-colored semi-double flowers held above the foliar plane on strong peduncles.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACLICE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Paclice’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new vigorous Zonal Geranium plants withearly flowering habit and numerous semi-double flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2006 of twounnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden,Germany during the spring of 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden,Germany since January, 2008 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Paclice’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Paclice’ as a new and distinct Zonal Geraniumplant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly rounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Medium green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.    -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Intense red purple-colored semi-double flowers held above the        foliar plane on strong peduncles.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in flower coloration. In addition, plants of the newZonal Geranium are more uniform than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of thePelargonium×hortorum ‘Penve’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,970. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of thenew Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Penve’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium had a more        distinct zonation pattern than leaves of plants of ‘Penve’.    -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Penve’ differed        slightly in flower color as flowers of ‘Penve’ were more violet        in color.    -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Penve’ differed in        flower pedicel color as plants of ‘Penve’ had brownish-tinged        flower pedicels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Paclice’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers during the springand summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Dresden, Germany and undercultural practices typical of commercial Zonal Geranium production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C.,night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were three months old when the photographwas taken and nine months old when the detailed description was taken.In the detailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Paclice’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly rounded plant            habit; narrow inverted triangle; densely foliated;            moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching            habit with about 20 lateral branches developing per plant;            pinching is not required.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 35 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 30 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 40 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite and alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 5 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 cm.        -   Shape.—Rounded; roughly reniform.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate, open.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent;            velvety.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137C; venation, close to 137C. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,            close to 146C. Zonation pattern: Intensity: Distinct.            Location: About 1 cm from margin. Width: About 1 cm. Color:            Close to 200A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; rough. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Semi-double flowers            arranged in roughly hemispherical umbels arising from apical            leaf axils; umbels displayed above the foliar plane on            strong peduncles; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely            flowering habit; about 25 flowers per umbel with about 20            umbels developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about three months after planting; in the garden            in Germany, flowering begins in April and continues until            frost.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about six to ten days on the            plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant;            flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 7 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 12 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Petals/petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About eight arranged            in about two whorls; petals/petaloids imbricate. Length:            About 2.8 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm to 2.7 cm. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: More blue than 66A; towards the base, close to            155D; venation, close to 66A; color becoming closer to 66A            with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 66C; towards the base, close to 155D;            venation, close to 66A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly upright.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146C.        -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 3.2 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About ten. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Tubular.            Anther color: Close to 172A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 167A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Five-parted.            Stigma color: Close to 61A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style            color: Close to 61A. Ovary color: Close to 148D. Seeds and            fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on            plants of the new Zonal Geranium.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about    35° C. to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Paclice’ as illustrated and described. 